Unit-circuit controller



Jul 5 1927.

y R. c. LEAKE UNIT CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Original Filed A112. 51. 1917 Guam L043 Patented July .5, 1927.

was STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD C. LEAKE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL RAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

UNIT-CIRCUIT CONTROLLER. I

Original application filed August 31, 1917, Serial No. 189,088. Ihlvided and this application filed September 1, 1920.

This invention relates to a unit circuit controller for devices, such as clockwork time releases, which necessitate provision for the control of a number of circuits, and which preferably require selection of different numbers of circuits that are to be opened or closed in the same operated position of the device- The objects of the present invention are to devise a simple and inexpensive construction of a unit circuit controller which will permit the assembly of such units in a limited space sufficient to control a large number of circuits, which is capable of reversal so as to be either opened or closed in the same position or condition of the device, and which will possess other features desirable in practice.

This application is a division of my prior application 'Ser. No. 189,088, filed Aug. 31, 1917, which matured into Patent No. 1,384,533, dated July 12, 1921.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the unit circuit controller embodying the present invention; and

Figs. 2 and 3 are detail sections on the lines 22 and 83 in Fig. 1, respectively.

Referring to the drawing, A designates the main operating shaft of the clockwork time release shown in my prior application above mentioned, to which are fastened a number of arms, as 1 and 2, made of insulating material and having their ends slightly beveled.

These arms 1 and 2 are spaced ninety degrees apart, but the shaft A carrying these arms is moved only about eighty degrees, in the manner fully explained in my prior application.

A contact block B of suitable insulating.

material is supported on two rods 3 passing through the holes in said block near the ends thereof. These rods'are-threaded or otherwise fastened to a base plate C. In the complete device several of these contact blocks 1% are arranged one above the other on the 7 Serial No. 407,508.

rods 3 and are spaced apart by bosses 4 (see Fig. The block 13 is formed with a recess 5 and a longitudinal groove 6 in its innerface, and two transverse holes for receiving binding posts 7 and 8.

A contact piece 9, provided with a tip of silver or similar material, is clamped in the groove 6'by one of the binding posts 8, the end portion 9 of said contact piece/being bent up as shown in Fig.1, so as to prevent turning of the binding post and thereby facilitating the tightening thereof in the block. Another member 10, conveniently termed a support, is fastened in the groov- 6 by the other binding post 7 said support 10 being bent out close to the head of this binding'post to prevent its turning. Oneend of the support 10 projects over the re cess 5.

To the support 10, is fastened a spring 11 which is bent up at one end and provided with a conductive tip to cooperate with the tip on the contact piece 9. To this spring '11 -is-riveted a retainer 12, which is bent as shown to form a stop for the outer end of said spring. This retainer 12 is split into three strips 18 13 and 14:. The middle strip let is bent back to form a hook arranged to engage the end of the support 10 and limit outward movement of the spring 11. The side strips 13 are pressed out or arched to constitute, together with the springs 11, bearings for the integral trunnions of a roller 15 which projects through a slot 16 in the spring 11 into position to be engaged by the arms l'or 2.

W'ith the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1, when the main shaft A and the arms 1 and 2 are turned clockwise through their operating angle of eighty degrees, the arm 1 is brought opposite the roller 15-a-nd forces this roller, togetherwith the spring 11 inward, so as to establish a circuit connection between the wiresconnected to the binding posts 7 and 8; The roller 15' is carried by the spring 11 at'a point lengthwise of the block 13 which is nearer one end of the. block -movab1e operating arm for engagement than the other; and when said block is turned end for end, the roller 15 will be brought opposite the arm :2, so that the circuit controller unit will be closed for the same position of the shaft A. In short, if the posi tion of the shaft A as shown is the normal position of the device, the contact block B may be readily reversed so as to proyide either normally opened or normally closed contacts. It will be evident that when several of these contact blocks B are arranged one above the other on the same rods 3, and this construction is duplicated four or more times around the shaft A, a very compact ran emen f r ami-all es a number f rcuits is provided; and further this organization permits the selection of any number of t l 1,c. contactsto be normally opened or normally closed as desired.

Various. changes-and medigfications in the precise structure. shown and described may be made without departing from the invention.

What I as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent Of the United States, is

1. A unit circuit controllercomprising a block of insulating material, stationary and movable contact members separately secured to said block and resiliently urged apart at their contacting ends, said movable contact member being provided with a slot, a binding post fastening each contact member to the block, .a roller carried inthe slot of said movable member, and a stop integral with and cXtending at right angles from substantially the midpoint of said movable contact adapted to engage a stationary part for hunting the movement of said movable contact.

2. A unit circuit controller comprising an insulated block, a contact spring supported by the block at one end, a retainer attached to the spring and having an end portion split into three strips, the middle strip being bent to form a hook for limiting the outward moven'icnt of the spring, the remaining side strips being formed into a bearing, and a roller in said bearing projecting through a slot in the spring.

3. A unit circuit controller comprising an insulated block supported near its ends and alerted t be Chan n tar east s a o ary and movable contact members separately secured to sa d. a k 2 l res ien y g spa their c nta t ng nds, r l e .red to said movable centact member nearer one end of the block tnan the other, a l

w th to class sa c nt; "t these; I

w i being s e a d wa ear;

in an in one face, binding post extending through holes in said block near the ends thereof, a contact piece and a contact support in said groove fastened to said block by said binding posts, a spring finger on said contact support, and'a stop extending from said spring finger into said recess.

. 6. unit circuit controller comprising, an insulating block supported near its ends and adapted to be changed end for end, a stationary contact element, a movable contact element, a transversely movable member, an operating member extending from said movable contact element nearer one end of the block than the other and adapted to be engaged by said movable member, whereby end to end interchangement of said block will change the operating characteristic of said controller.

A unit circuit controller comprising an insulating block, a support for said block permitting end to end interchangement thereof, circuit controlling means carried by said block having an operating member located unsymmetrical with respect to the sup port of said block, a transversely movable member adaptedto actuate said operating member, whereby end to end interchangement of said block will change the operating characteristic of said controller.

8. A unit circuit controller comprising, an insulating block, a resilient contact spring supported by the block at one end, a rigid retainer attached to the spring, one end por tion of said retainer extending towards said block being bent up to form a hook to limit the movement of said spring away from the block, and the other end being bent to form a stop to limit the flexing of said contact spring in. one direction,

insulatingbloch, a contact support fastened to said block, a contact spring fined to said support, a rigid retainer attached to the series substantially t midpeint and b ing'oiie end portion bent to form a hook to s id. sup r e im h mov m of said spring away from said "block.

1 0" e Tw "vi-r9 T155 C n olle mi na a insu e k, a con es s rne f c n a se ies s i d S11 P r and a r tain seen to ac rise i a means? t per '0 limit the outward movement of a: roller,

said Contact spring, and to permit the free said spring comprising, a piece of sheet end of said contact spring to flex in one metal for limiting the flexing of the free direction only. end of said spring in one direction and 11. A unit circuit controller comprising, having one end bent to form a trunnion for a block of insulating material; a. stationary said roller.

contact and a movable contact spring having In testimony whereof I have aflixed my a slot, separately secured to said block; a signature.

roller in said slot; and a retainer riveted to RICHARD C. LEAKE. 

